Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of impact
"The new policy has significant impacts on small business owners across the region."
In plain English: Impacts are the effects something has on other things.
"The recent changes in tax law have significant impacts on small business owners."
Usage: Use "impacts" as a noun to describe multiple distinct effects or consequences resulting from an action. Avoid using it as a verb in casual speech when you simply mean "hits," as the verb form is often unnecessary and can sound overly technical.
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of impact
"The new policy impacts how small businesses file their annual taxes."
In plain English: To impact something as a verb means to hit it with force, causing damage or change.
"The new regulations will impact all small businesses in the city."
Usage: Use "impacts" to describe when something hits or strikes another object physically. Avoid using it as a synonym for "affects" in general contexts, such as describing emotional or abstract influence.
Derived from the Latin impactus, the past participle of impingere meaning "to strike against," this term originally described a physical collision before evolving to denote significant effects or consequences.